From Health and Fitness

On my honeymoon here in French Polynesia. Right now we are on the island of Moorea. Much of the cuisine here is French style. Tons of fish and meat oriented dishes. There is a lack of awareness amongst locals and the hotel staff regarding vegetarian food on the island, though there are many options available …

I grew up in a rural community (the cows outnumbered the humans) and we had an acre of land, a large portion of which was planted with rose bushes, fruit trees or vegetables. I spent a large portion of my weekends growing up tending to the gardens. Tilling the soil, weeding, watering, planting, harvesting and …

Add in the good stuff. As much of it as you can. Whenever you can. There it is, you can skip the rest of this post! Most diets are defined by what you CAN’T eat not what you CAN eat. Vegans are all about not eating meat or dairy or eggs. Paleo’s are about not …

Managing your energy is far more important than just managing your time. Keep a log of how you feel during the day based on your energy level. Over time see how hydration, nutrition, sleep, training and work schedules impact your energy. Then, make adjustments to maximize your overall energy level, and make sure that your …

Just posted my race calendar for 2012 on the right hand side of the site —> 6/15 2.4mi Friday Night Swim Race : This race is just a tune-up and a motivating force to get me in the pool during the spring. I’d like to swim 1:10 or so for 2.4 miles, which will be …

Geoff Roes – an elite American ultra-marathon runner – won an incredible race in the rugged Alaskan outback last week. Though, instead of saying he ‘won,’ it would be better to say he ‘survived the fastest.’ The 350 mile foot-race took a full week to complete in absolutely insane conditions. He pulled all his own …

I did not race this year (see my report from the 2011 race), but over the past weekend 500 runners (including hundreds of Tarahumara) met in the bottom of Urique canyon and ran 50 miles through the heat, dust and rugged canyons in a celebration of the Tarahumara culture. My hat goes off to Caballo …

I enjoy coffee, I really do. I also like tea and have this feeling that coffee just doesn’t suit me so well. I get very amped up on it, it interrupts my sleep patterns and affects my training and diet. For the past few weeks I’ve cut back on my coffee habit. I normally drink …

Spent a few days in the Methow Valley over the weekend getting a crash course in Nordic skiing as part of the Methow Nordic Club’s annual ski camp. We did both skate and classic skiing. I really like the sport. It reminds me of trail running combined with the fluid nature of swimming. I’m already …

Yoga is a fantastic workout for your physical body, but that is not its purpose. It’s purpose is to cultivate a deep sense of connection to the present moment. In doing so it is the ultimate workout for the mind. Sweating, losing weight, gaining strength and all those things are collateral benefits but should never …

I think this is an incredibly important article to read, especially in light of Job’s passing and his authorized biography illustrating what an impact his diet had on his persona. According to Dr. McDougall, Job’s plant-based diet was not at fault for his cancer. On the contrary, it surely did enable him to live longer …

What would you rather have, a stack of paper money or a cart full of goodies? I pay whatever it takes to get high quality organic goods whenever I can. I can’t think of a better thing to spend money on. My health and well being depends on it. Some people are terrified to spend …

For almost every race I have ever done, I had a good time during the race even if my time totally stunk. I can’t say that about the Portland Marathon yesterday. I finished it, but it was very painful and just not fun at all. The one redeeming quality was that I saw how much …

I’m sitting here relaxing before the Portland Marathon tomorrow. Walking through the race expo, it occurred to me just how much I love running, and how lucky I am to have discovered that. Many of the 12,000 other runners tomorrow will be doing their first marathon. Many is seems didn’t discover running until later in …

Confusion arises from not following wants, needs and the resulting emotions to their logical conclusion. The multi-billion dollar cosmetic industry implies that many people want to live forever and look young but would that really be enjoyable? Wouldn’t you eventually be bored living like that? People want friends to never get angry and co-workers to …

The 2011 Baptiste Power Flow Immersion is complete! 500 + yogis gathered in Estes Park, CO for a three day immersion in Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. Led by Baron Baptiste, this gathering included Master Teachers from around the country leading workshops in addition to plenty of teachers and students of all skill levels coming together to practice. …

Growth happens when you rest, not when you are training. If you just train constantly with little rest you will slow down, weaken and eventually get injured. Rest is the key. Many athletes (like me!) spend a ton of money on gadgets like heart rate monitors, power meters, GPS devices and fancy training programs, but …

The biggest insight I’ve ever had in making a dietary shift, is to not focus on what you are taking away (e.g. fried food, processed sugar, etc.) but instead to focus on what you are adding (e.g. more water, fresh fruits, greens, etc.). Focus intently on what good things (or habits) you are adding and …

I saw part of this passage as a preface to a strategy document I was reading at work today. The bold part really speaks to me. There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, …

You would never build your dream home on a sandy beach. You would seek out a solid piece of bedrock or pour a sturdy foundation, and then create your masterpiece. Likewise, it pays to focus on the foundations of any task. Clear and concise writing and speech at work. Technique and drills while swimming, running …